Georgia Trend Daily – April 11, 2023
April 11, 2023 Georgia Ports Authority
Georgia Ports: Growing Big – Mason Mega Rail
Staff reports, sitting on 85-acres at the Port of Savannah, Mason Mega Rail is the largest on-terminal intermodal facility in North America. The new yard features more than 120,000 feet of rail and 18 working tracks, capable of serving six 10,000-foot trains simultaneously with 10 new rail-mounted gantry cranes.
April 11, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Auburn University’s Executive MBA Program: Expand Your Possibilities
Julia Roberts reports that Catherine Coleman has always enjoyed challenging herself. From middle school English teacher to supervisor of training and online learning systems at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to managing for Delta Air Lines, Catherine has found herself changing directions and pushing her limits in her career.
April 11, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
How the Qcells solar panel deal highlights a U.S. manufacturing push
Zachary Hansen reports, for years, a glut of cheap Chinese-made solar panels decimated America’s solar cell makers, including two Georgia companies that shut their doors several years ago. But last week’s announced order for 2.5 million solar panels from Qcells in northwest Georgia — which was announced by Vice President Kamala Harris — put an exclamation point on the U.S. solar industry’s rebound.
April 11, 2023 Capitol Beat News
Atlanta Gas Light, technical colleges launch workforce partnership
Dave Williams reports that the nonprofit Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) Foundation announced a new partnership Monday with Gwinnett Technical College and Atlanta Technical College to train natural gas technicians. The company and the two schools are launching a one-semester certification program for natural gas technicians, with classes set to begin May 22.
April 11, 2023 State Affairs
Q&A: Edna Jackson, Savannah’s first Black female mayor, on her public service career, turning 80, and what’s next
Issac Morgan reports, when she’s not in the Statehouse pushing for more funding in the state budget for historically Black colleges and universities in Georgia and other legislative proposals, Edna Jackson is enjoying a southern meal at one of her favorite restaurants and traveling the world. In fact, Jackson is taking another trip to West Africa following the legislative session that ended in March.
April 11, 2023 Rome News-Tribune
We are becoming Georgia’s ‘green capital.’
Staff reports that the April edition of the state’s business magazine features the 2023 Economic Yearbook and the Northwest Georgia chapter includes a generous nod to much of what is happening here. Maybe it is time we officially dub ourselves the “green capital of Georgia.”
April 11, 2023 The Current
Data dive: How much does a school superintendent cost?
Maggie Lee reports, Georgia’s 10th largest school system is starting a search for a new leader. Contracts and data from near neighbors and far peers suggests what the Savannah-Chatham County School Board can probably expect to pay the next superintendent, as well how educators get paid in comparison.
April 11, 2023 Marietta Daily Journal
Concerns raised over county’s latest opioid settlement
Jake Busch reports, ahead of a Cobb Board of Commissioners vote to move forward with a lawsuit settlement over the opioid crisis, Commissioner Keli Gambrill wants to see money going toward “the root cause.” Gambrill told the MDJ she wants the settlement money used both to make sure patients are not being overprescribed opioids by multiple sources and to stop opioids, primarily fentanyl, from coming over the U.S.’s southern border with Mexico.
April 11, 2023 Georgia Recorder
Georgia lawmakers try to wrap heads around regulating hemp-based recreational products
Ross Williams reports, in the final days of this year’s legislative session, a bill aimed at regulating hemp products fell short after lawmakers tried to insert language banning Delta-8 THC and similar products that are often used recreationally. House Bill 458, sponsored by Ashburn Republican Rep. Clay Pirkle, aims to restrict sales of these products to anyone younger than 21 and set testing requirements to weed out contaminants.
April 11, 2023 The Center Square
Property taxes a hot topic in Georgia Legislature
T.A. DeFeo reports that during the most recent Georgia legislative session, property taxes were a hot-button issue, with lawmakers approving $950 million for property tax relief as part of the amended fiscal 2023 budget. House Bill 18 allows an $18,000 exemption on the assessed home value of qualifying homesteads on the 2023 property tax bill.
April 11, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Business that was impetus for Georgia’s ‘yacht tax break’ sold for $100M
James Salzer reports, six years ago on the final day of the General Assembly’s session, lawmakers passed a sales tax break for owners of giant yachts who get their vessels repaired or retrofitted in Georgia, a move backed by a company that was a big donor to state politicians. House Bill 125 was pushed by state Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, who said the owner of the Savannah Yacht Center — the Colonial Group Inc. — was planning to invest $50 million to $60 million into the big-boat business and promising to create hundreds of jobs.
